May & June Gardening Chores
May Checklist
Sources: Clemson University Extension Service.
Robert Polomski, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Carolinas.
Francis Worthington, The Piedmont Gardener.
- Continue pruning spring-flowering shrubs and trees as their blossoms fade.
- Begin pinching back chrysanthemums every other week for shorter, stockier plants with more blooms.
- Cut chives to the ground at the beginning of the month to remove woody flower stems. Water and fertilize lightly to stimulate growth.
- Continue setting out transplants of warm-weather vegetables. Set out eggplant and pepper transplants when soil is about 65° and nights are continuously 50°.
- Plant seeds of warm-season vegetables anytime this month. Wait until later in the month to plant okra. Soak okra seeds in tepid water for 24 hours to speed germination.
- Houseplants can go outside at the start of the month. Start in shade and gradually move to sun.
- Cut back flower stalks to the ground on daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs as flowers fade. Do not cut the leaves until they die naturally.
- Check azaleas for color and growth. If more growth is desired, fertilize with a 16-4-8 slow-release fertilizer according to soil test recommendation. If soil test results are not available, fertilize using 1-2 pounds/100 square feet.
- Look for tomato hornworms. Handpick and destroy. If the hornworms have tiny white eggs or cocoons attached, they are hosting beneficial parasitic wasps. Let nature run its course: The hornworm will die in due order, and the wasps will hatch and help prevent future problems.
- Keep an eye out for insects and mites.
- Check zinnias for powdery mildew; remove infected plants and thin the bed to improve air movement.
- Water newly planted centipede regularly.
- Fertilize warm-season grasses.
- Set mower height on high for fescue and other cool-season grasses so the longer blades shade the ground and cool the soil.
- Water fescue and other cool-season grasses to keep them green.
- Take softwood cuttings and root the cuttings in a moist, shaded location in a 50/50 mix of sand and peat moss.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs that bloom before July 1 right
- after flowers fade. These include forsythia, spirea, deutzia, daphne, winter jasmine, camellia, azalea and weigela.
- Feed gumpo azaleas after they finish blooming. Prune lightly for a rounded but natural shape.
- Feed roses and continue routine maintenance including spraying, watering and deadheading.
- Prune climbing and rambling roses that bloom only once as soon as blooms fade. Remove old canes to the ground and partially cut back new canes if they are too long. Thin new canes to keep the climber/rambler neat and orderly.
- Cut back yellowed leaves of spring-flowering bulbs and dig up crowded bulbs. Replant larger bulbs. Water summer bulbs, if necessary.
- Remove faded blooms on perennials.
- Trim back chrysanthemums once or twice this month to promote bushiness.
- Lift and divide bearded iris after flowers fade. Cut leaves back by half to minimize water loss.
- Pinch back petunias, marigolds, zinnias and salvias at month’s end to encourage new flowers.
- Fertilize, deadhead and water annuals.
- Pull up and discard pansies.
- Remove flowers of dusty miller to keep leaves looking good.
- Water annuals from below to prevent leaf spot diseases.
- Cut back herbs for drying.
- Continue watering and fertilizing vegetables.
- Harvest crops as they begin to ripen.
- Dig onions when the tops turn yellow and fall over.
- Start eggplant, tomato and pepper transplants for fall harvest.
- Feed late strawberries after fruit is picked; feed ever-bearing
- and alpine strawberries to encourage continued production.
- Revitalize old and crowded strawberry patches.
- Fertilize bearing grapes with manure tea or fish emulsion.
- Cover blueberries with bird netting.
- Continue weeding.
Sources: Clemson University Extension Service.
Robert Polomski, Month-by-Month Gardening in the Carolinas.
Francis Worthington, The Piedmont Gardener.